Eight Beautiful Scotland Awards for Edinburgh

The prestigious Beautiful Scotland awards are organised by Keep Scotland Beautiful and the competition looks at cleanliness, sustainability and diversity as well as horticulture.

Judges visited Edinburgh on 5 August 2010 and examined floral displays, sustainable development and biodiversity initiatives. They also looked at environmental quality (for example the absence of litter, dog fouling, graffiti, fly-posting and weeds); and community involvement.

It was announced this week that the City of Edinburgh won the City Award, along with a silver gilt medal certificate in the city category; Hailesland Park were presented with the Permanent Landscaping Award as well as a silver gilt medal certificate in the flatted community category.

Another flatted community, Wheatfield Backgreen Association, picked up the Jim MurdieTrophy for Sustainability and a silver gilt medal certificate.

Restalrig and Lochend House went home with a silver gilt medal certificate in the flatted community category and, last but not least, Prestonfield were presented with a bronze medal certificate in the urban community category.

Five local communities within the City of Edinburgh were competing with 73 from across Scotland in the 2010 Beautiful Scotland Awards.

Councillor Robert Aldridge, Environmental leader at the City of Edinburgh Council , said:

"We are delighted that Edinburgh has picked up eight prestigious awards from Keep Scotland Beautiful, which will help in maintaining Edinburgh 's reputation as a cleaner, greener and attractive city.

"I would like to say a big 'thank you' to all the local community groups who have worked hard to successfully transform their local environments. These volunteers help ensure the city is a great place to live and visit, where locals and visitors alike are able to enjoy clean, sustainable and stunning surroundings."

John Summers OBE, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, and master of ceremonies at the Awards said:

"Beautiful Scotland celebrates the communities which are working to improve and enhance their local areas through environmental education, recycling, and encouraging litter-free environments as well as horticulture.

"These awards presented today go some way to recognising all the hard work that volunteers and local authorities put in throughout the year to ensure that visitors and local community members are able to enjoy clean, sustainable and beautiful surroundings."

A selection of Edinburgh 's winning communities will also be entered into the Britain in Bloom final.

Community information

City of Edinburgh

Beautiful Scotland judges, said: " Edinburgh meets the challenge of its enormous visitor numbers with a blend of determination and innovation. High standards of perennial horticultural display, aided by links with the Edinburgh Botanic Garden , make the city an example of varied and interesting sustainable planting. The city should pride itself on the participation of schools in the Green Flag and Eco-School programmes, as well as its other fine eco educational programmes and initiatives such as in Holyrood Park ."

Hailesland Park

Beautiful Scotland judges, said: " Hailesland Park can only be described as a complete community landscape designed and maintained by the community. This wonderful area with planted beds full of colour and texture set within and around a series of themed gardens is both unexpected and a delight."

Wheatfield Backgreen Association

Beautiful Scotland judges, said: "This is a true community project that has been running for five years now. The garden overall has evolved with a type of synergy that professionals seldom achieve. It has all the key elements for success, obvious connecting paths, generous social space, hub gathering areas, and regular organised activities. We cannot fault this garden or the group's efforts. They have been doing so well without any advice that we don't want to give any in case this special garden looses its flavour!"

Restalrig & Lochend House

Beautiful Scotland judges, said: "The landscaped areas and manicured gardens that embrace and surround these two high rise dwellings is a joy to behold, and is a testament to the group's hard and continued work over a long period, as well as the vision they have for this area. These gardens and adjacent areas have transformed the whole area, not just in terms of the visual experience you get but also knowing that it is potentially changing the cultural view of those who live within the area."

Prestonfield

Beautiful Scotland judges, said: "The Prestonfield group has a long tradition of working in their area. The war memorial is an important focal point in the community and the work of the group here and the beds by the community centre provide welcome colour. There are a number of attractive private gardens."